MCD workers take off shirts in protest

A GROUP OF PARTIALLY CLOTHED SANITATION WORKERS MARCHED FROM RAJGHAT TILL DELHI SECRETARIAT TO RAISE THEIR DEMANDS FOR PENDING SALARIES

NEW DELHI: After months of protesting and demanding their salaries and other pending dues, agitated sanitation workers have adopted a new way to protest. On Thursday, they took their shirts off to highlight how they could no longer afford basic amenities like clothes, and also draw attention to the fact that they have allegedly not been provided proper uniforms for 20 years.

The protesters vowed to intensify their efforts against the Delhi government after their second attempt to gherao the office of the CM was foiled by police.

The group of partially clothed sanitation workers marched from Rajghat till Delhi Secretariat on Thursday.

The workers, member of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union, gathered at the Rajghat around 11am and started shouting slogans against the government and the municipal corporation. Agitated workers lay on ground and climbed the barricades.

However, they failed in their attempt to break the barricades placed by the police to stop the protesters from reaching the Delhi Secretariat because of heavy deployment of police.

After an hour of protest, Sanjay Gehlot, president of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union, decided to meet the deputy CM Manish Sisodia. “But when we reached the secretariat, Sisodia was not there,” said Gehlot.

The protestors expressed disappointment over their failure to meet deputy CM Manish Sisodia on the issue. “He did not meet us on purpose. The government is not serious about our issues. We will not withdraw the agitation unless a permanent solution is found,” said the protesters.

The workers are demanding ₹100 crore from the Delhi government to clear their pending salaries.